Messages Is Better Now

Messages gets one of its biggest upgrades in years thanks to tools that make conversations more expressive and more organized, especially with group chats. Apple added built-in polls, which are incredibly helpful for group chats that always struggle to decide on a plan. Instead of using emojis or third-party apps to coordinate details, you can create a quick poll and let the group vote.

Messages also lets you apply custom backgrounds to individual conversations. It’s cosmetic, but it helps you distinguish chats at a glance and adds personality to your everyday messages.

One of the most overdue improvements is the ability to select just part of a message. You no longer need to copy an entire chat bubble when someone sends you a word or sentence you need to copy; you can grab the exact thing you want. It’s a tiny quality-of-life change that makes a big difference for students, professionals, and anyone who quotes text frequently.

Last but not least, Messages also gets a new filtering capability. Spam messages and texts from people you don’t have in your contacts will be hidden in a separate section, so you can focus on your most important conversations without distractions.